Chapter 5: Unanswered Questions

The packhouse was filled with murmurs and whispers as news of the diplomatic gathering spread like wildfire. Some spoke in excitement, others in fear, but all were uneasy. The Alpha's announcement had been clear, and now, the entire pack was on edge, wondering what it all meant.

Aveline sat at the far end of the hall, watching the warriors move about, their faces filled with curiosity. The rival pack's new Alpha was a name that sent a chill through the room. Rumors about his power, his ruthlessness, and his history with their pack had been circulating for months, but nothing concrete was known. What if he was the one who had been responsible for Gabriel's death? The thought dawned on Aveline, and her stomach twisted into knots.

Aveline needed to clear her mind from all she had been feeding her mind lately so she walked through the training ground to get a stroll and also enjoy the scent of the forest's fresh morning air. The forest quietness so comforting for her before now feels suffocating. Every step she took felt like it was dragging her to something she wasn't ready to face. The upcoming meeting with the rival Alpha was unavoidable, and with each passing moment, her anxiety deepened.

Aveline tries to focus on the mission ahead but she gets pulled by the memories of Gabriel's laughter, his smile, and how he glows whenever they are discussing their future together. The memories are now both a comfort and a torment.

Her resolve, which had once been unshakable, was starting to crack. The questions that had haunted her for so long now seemed louder, clearer, and too loud to ignore. The mystery surrounding Gabriel's death, Elder Thorne's cryptic warnings, and the uncertainty of what she might discover at the gathering all weighed heavily on her.

Aveline stopped by the training ground, watching the warriors spar with a practiced eye. They were all so focused, their movements fluid and precise. A small part of her envied their clarity, how they could focus on the task at hand and shut out everything else. But she couldn't do that, not with Gabriel's shadow looming over her. Not with the doubts about her father's role in everything that had happened.

"Aveline," a voice called from behind her. She turned to see her father, the Beta, approaching with a concerned look on his face.

"Father," she said, forcing a smile. "What's going on?"

He looked at her for a moment, then spoke, his voice was low and steady. "I can see that you're struggling with all that's happening recently. The gathering is important, yes, but you need to keep your focus. The pack needs you, Aveline. You're the strongest warrior we have."

She nodded, though her thoughts were far from the pack's needs. She had been trained to be a warrior, to put the pack first above all else. But now, everything seems blurry. Everything had changed; she believed so much in her bond with Gabriel, but with all that's unfolding recently, she seems confused about what to believe anymore.

"I'm focused, Father," she said, though her voice didn't quite sound convincing.

Her father stepped closer, lowering his voice even more. "I know you're still in grief, but this is not the time to think about the past. The pack's future depends on your leadership. You can't let these ghosts cloud your judgment."

Aveline narrowed her eyes. She knew her father was right in his way. The pack needed her to be strong, to lead them in this uncertain time. But how could she do that when everything she had known felt like a lie? What if the truth about Gabriel's death was hidden in a place she couldn't see? What if there were forces within the pack itself working against her?

Her father's words lived in her mind as she walked away from him. She didn't know if her father understood what she was carrying in her mind. He had always been the reasonable one, focused on the reality of their world. But she couldn't help but feel that there was more to Gabriel's death than the people she trusted initially were telling her. And that included her father.

The day passed slowly, each moment feeling more suffocating in her mind than the last. Aveline found herself retreating to her quarters, hoping for a moment of peace. But the quiet in her room only seemed to increase the disturbance inside her. She moved her fingers through her hair, staring at the wall as if the answers would appear if she looked long enough.

And then, while she was trying to lie down and relax, her glimpse met a folded piece of paper on the desk, hidden under a pile of training notes. She walked over and picked it up, her mind was beating faster than ever before as she recognized the handwriting on the paper which was Gabriel's.

Her hands kept shaking as she unfolded the letter, her heart kept racing. The letter was short, but the words sent a serious fear into her mind.

"Aveline, if you're reading this, then it means I'm not with you. But know this: there are forces in both our packs that are working to manipulate us. They want us divided, weakened. Don't trust everything you're told. You need to see through the lies, no matter how difficult it is. Remember what we shared. Trust your instincts. The truth is out there, but it's not visible to the naked eye, the world is full of deception and one more thing—

I never left you, Aveline."

The words felt like a punch to her gut. She reread them over and over, trying to make sense of them. Gabriel hadn't left her, what did that mean? Was he alive? Was he still out there somewhere, waiting for the right moment to return?

Aveline's heart pounded as she tried to process what she had just read. The letter confirmed what she had already suspected, that there was something larger at play. Someone wanted her to stay in the dark. But who? And why?

While she was still surprised at the letter she saw then a knock at the door sounded. She took the letter immediately and hid it in the drawer and stood up, she opened the door to find her father standing there with a serious look on his face.

"We need to talk," he said while walking inside quietly.

"What is it, Father?" she asked, her voice steady despite all that was going on in her mind.

He took a deep breath, his expression was questionable. "I've been thinking about everything that's happened. About Gabriel. And I believe you deserve the truth."

Aveline's heart skipped a beat. This was it. The moment she had been waiting for. She arranged herself for whatever he was about to say, but the words that followed were not what she had expected.

"The truth is… complicated," he said slowly, his eyes avoiding hers. "There are things I haven't told you. Things I couldn't. And now, the time has come for you to understand."

Just as Aveline opened her mouth to demand answers, her father's voice dropped to a whisper. "The rival pack's Alpha wants to meet with you tomorrow. There's more at stake than just a diplomatic gathering. And you need to be prepared for what you might learn."